If you have been with us for a while, you already know the rhythm. Each month, Ben rolls up his sleeves, walks the garden, and turns his own To Do list into simple steps you can follow. It is steady. It is practical. It means you never have to stand at the back door in […]
Eisenia fetida, the red wiggler worm, is the tiny livestock that never sleeps. It eats what many of us throw away and turns it into rich, dark castings that feed soil and plants. In homes, schools, and farms across the United States, this little worm powers worm bins, manure systems, and compost projects that run […]
Sweet potatoes feel like summer on a plate. When we grow our own, we get more flavor, more color, and a lot more pride. The secret to a strong sweet potato harvest is one simple thing: healthy slips. Slips are baby plants that sprout from a mature sweet potato. When we learn how to grow […]
Step into almost any serious succulent collection and one plant always steals the show. A tiny starfish bloom sits on top of a spiky green mat, and in the center is a glossy ring that looks exactly like a gummy candy. That wild little plant is the lifesaver cactus, Huernia zebrina, and its cousins in […]
Tomato plants are the classic American backyard crop. We tuck them beside the porch, in raised beds, on patios, even on balconies. A ripe tomato still warm from the sun tastes like summer itself—sweet, bright, and a little bit wild. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to grow strong, productive tomato plants in the […]
This week at Aaron’s arboretum feels big.We filled baskets with food from the garden.We set nine new maple trees into the ground.We flew the drone and saw the whole property from the sky. In other words, the dream is turning into a real, living place.Tree by tree.Row by row.Shot by shot. You and I are […]
Growing Rhodophiala from bulbs feels simple and calm. These little plants do not ask for much. They forgive a missed watering. They forgive a less than perfect soil. In other words, they fit real life. They belong to the amaryllis family, but they stay small. Gardeners sometimes call them dwarf amaryllids. That means they keep […]
(Your friendly, dirt-under-the-nails garden-nerd guide to protecting your plants) There’s something peaceful about digging in your garden, seeing sprouts push through the soil, watching bees visit blooms. Until you notice little ant trails snaking through your plants. Tiny piles of dirt. Suddenly, your garden feels less calm and more compromised. Ants in the garden aren’t […]
(A friendly, practical guide to protecting your plants and peace of mind) There’s something satisfying about seeing your garden bloom. Fresh soil, tender sprouts, petals opening to the sun—until one morning, you spot tiny holes, half-eaten bulbs, or seedlings snapped off at the base. The culprit? A chipmunk with a big appetite and bigger curiosity. […]
Here’s a neighborly, step-by-step guide to how to draw your garden, build the plan, and bring it to life in your backyard. I’ll walk you through every phase so you can sketch with confidence, clarity and creativity. 1. Start With Measuring & Mapping Your Space Before any pencil hits paper, we need to understand what […]